Home player Galib Mangat wins Nyeri Golf Festival title

Caption Francis Muthiani tees off on the par-four 17th hole during the Nyeri Golf Festival tournament at Vet Lab Sports Club, August 17, 2024. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Over the weekend, the 101-year-old Vet Lab Sports Club hosted the inaugural Nyeri Golf Festival, attracting a record-breaking field of 210 golfers.

Vet Lab Sports Club's Club Captain Vincent Handa billed it as a record-breaking tournament this year after it attracted a huge field of 210 golfers.

Dr. Susan Ngure, the vice-chairman of Mukurwe-ini Golfers, emphasized the importance of such events in understanding and preserving the region's rich heritage.

"We have a rich heritage which provides clues about our past and how times have changed. Through such interactions, we can develop an awareness about ourselves." Dr Ngure observed.

Her sentiments were echoed by Mukurwe-ini Golfers Chairman, Engineer Kaiuki Muchemi, "As Kenyans and specifically from Nyeri County, we have diverse cultures which we must preserve. The Nyeri Golf Festival is here to stay, and this event will grow into the future to advance the heritage of Nyeri."

He added, "Such tournaments provide clues to our past and how our society has evolved. It helps us examine our history and traditions and enables us to develop an awareness about ourselves."

On the course, home player Galib Mangat chalked 41 stableford points to win the tournament's overall winner playing off handicap 13, followed by David Warui, who posted 40 stableford points to claim the overall winner second prize with 40 stableford points.

The Men winner was Kenneth Kiura with 40 stableford points, followed by the Men winner second, Kihuha Njoroge, with 39 stableford points. Handicap 8, Francis Muthiani settled for Men winner third after losing out to Njoroge on countback with a similar score of 39 stableford points.  

Bagging the Lady winner prize was Joy Ndonga, playing off handicap 15 with a score of 36 stableford points ahead of the Lady winner's second prize was won by Jane Wokabi with a score of 34 stableford points.

In the sponsor's category, Maina Kariuki, playing off handicap 23, registered 40 stableford points to lift the overall sponsor prize.

Handicap 26, Mwangi Kioi, returned to the clubhouse with 36 stableford points to clinch the Men sponsor winner prize. The Lady Sponsor winner prize was won by Jenniffer Kariuki, with 31 stableford points.

Youngster Viaan Vajpayee was declared the Junior winner with a whooping score of 47 stableford points playing off handicap 32, followed by the Junior winner second prize winner Ishaan Samani with 37 stableford points.

Ebill Omollo emerged as the Gross Men prize winner on 74 Gross playing off handicap 1, while Veronica Muthiani clinched the Gross Lady winner prize with 94 Gross.

The Special category prize was won by Leonard Kiragu with 46 stableford points.

In the commercials, Mose Sammy bagged the Nearest To Pin Men prize on the par-three 16th hole, Jane Mutulili won the Nearest To Pin Lady prize. No golfer sank a Hole-in-One in their round and missed out on the acre of land prize courtesy of M-VAL.

Maina Iraki won the Longest Drive Men prize while the Longest Drive Lady prize was won by Dorcas Mukabi.

The event was organized by Mukurwe-ini Golfers and supported by various sponsors including Wakulima Dairy - Mukurwe-ini, Nokras Group of Hotels, Kabete National Polytechnic, M-Val, Davis Court - Nyeri, and Sense of Africa and Galana Agencies.

The tournament aimed to celebrate prominent individuals from Nyeri County, such as former president Mwai Kibaki, Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi, Nobel laureate Prof Wangari Mathai, and Olympian Catherine Ndereba.